DOWN, RIK (DiY)
With an introduction to the Apple Macintosh gained in ‘ 87 whilst editing the ‘What’s On’ section of Nottingham University newspaper, Digs found a love of art & design, ranging from Bauhaus & De Stijl to Leger and Warhol, via the Italian Futurists, abstract and post impressionists to develop the DiY graphic style. Designing the logo during stints as in house DiY designer and advisor / designer to local enthusiastic Rave Promoters, it was the poster and flyer for 93 ‘rave’ Rhythm Collision that confirmed DiY’s minimal style.

Drawing on the condensed type of film poster roll calls and perhaps an over-reliance on Helvetic 85 Heavy, a restrained style was developed to counter the omnipresent 4 colour gaudathons of the commercial rave world, in line with the soundsystems’ musical stance. Output for the record label DiY Discs drew initially on Blue Note album covers, moving into heavy photoshop work on images for the WARP album ‘Strictly 4 Groovers’ and developed into the first Atjazz album using original Japanese Manga artwork. The sister label Diversions style drew inspiration from found woodcuts and illustrations gathered from worldwide travel with DJ partner Woosh.
Collaborations with Steve Ingram, 1210 / Output and Nicki Chalmers yielded the majority of DiY’s output from 1994 – 2007. Latterly

Digs has returned to originating and completing design work.
‘DiYLOGOx9’ is given a contemporary treatment, drawing on teenage experiments with the 2Tone logo and a mid-90’s desperation to ‘get off the computer’. Digs is currently planning to create audio visual work.